Standards at the UK's maintained schools and academies have seen an improvement in the last few years, according to a new report from Ofsted.

The regulator has published its inspection outcomes, which apply up to August 31st 2016, showing that there are now almost 1.8 million more pupils in good or outstanding schools than in 2010.

Of the schools assessed in England, 89 per cent were rated as good or outstanding, up from 84 per cent in August 2015. This is the highest proportion ever recorded, with the proportion of both primary and secondary schools achieving these ratings continuing to rise in every region of the country.

Moreover, there are now more than 6.6 million pupils taught in good or outstanding schools, with almost 420,000 additional good or outstanding school places available in the last year.

School standards minister Nick Gibbs welcomed the progress highlighted by the latest Ofsted report, while also emphasising that there remains room for further improvement.

He said: "We know there is more to do, and that's precisely why we have set out plans to make more good school places available, to more parents, in more parts of the country - including scrapping the ban on new grammar school places, and harnessing the resources and expertise of universities, independent and faith schools."

Maintained schools make up the majority of the country's schools, with their funding and oversight carried out through the local authority, while academies get their funding and oversight from the Department for Education via the Education Funding Agency, with an academy trust handling the running of the schools and the employment of staff.